Do Dogs Recognize Facial Expressions?

Dog owners consider their pets to be part of the family, and since both dogs and humans have similar social systems among their own species, they meld together into a single family quite well. Long-term bonds develop between family members as they spend time together, live in close proximity, and share emotional experiences.

Close relationships are founded on good communication. Spoken communication is unique to each species; however, non-verbal communication such as facial expressions and body language are shared. This means that the canine members of our family “get us.”

How did canine-human communication develop?

Many years ago, the status of the canine-human relationship changed. No longer were dogs valued only for the work they could do herding livestock or protecting the home. With the advent of processed dog food and improved veterinary care, dogs moved from outdoors to indoors and were socialized inside the home. In their new environment, dogs learned to decipher human nonverbal language. They interpreted human moods, anticipated human needs, and were rewarded with food, shelter, and lots of love. This positive reinforcement stimulated increased canine efforts to understand their humans.

Humans are the center of the canine world. Because they depend on us for the basics of life, food and shelter, they monitor our every move. They know when we are rushed or relaxed, happy or mad, focused or available for play time. They are wise creatures that realize our moods affect them. A good mood may mean an extra snuggle while a bad mood may mean that it’s time to hide under the bed.

“They know when we are rushed or relaxed,
happy or mad, focused or available for play time.”

Dogs don’t have to understand every spoken word to get the gist of a conversation, especially since only 10% of what humans communicate is actually verbal. Non-verbal posture, gestures, body carriage, and facial expressions communicate 90% of what we have to say so our dogs have learned to monitor these physical actions very closely.

How do dogs recognize facial expressions?

These close canine observations result in a form of communication. As most pet owners acknowledge, our dogs recognize our facial expressions. A frown tells a pup something is amiss and a smile makes his tail wag. Now, there is scientific evidence to validate our observations.

The University of Lincoln in the UK performed a series of experiments demonstrating canine ability to recognize facial expressions. In the tests, dogs were shown 12 images: two of a person and a dog looking negative or angry, two looking neutral, and two looking positive or smiling. As the dogs viewed each of the images, the scientists measured their reactions and assessed whether the dogs responded to the facial expressions of people and dogs in the same manner. They concluded that dogs are more sensitive to changes in facial expressions of other dogs, but that dogs did show different responses to the positive, negative, or neutral expressions of humans, too.

Dogs are so focused on our faces that they respond differently when they cannot see us. In another experiment, a dog was placed alone in a room. His owner and a stranger walked in via separate doors, crossed in front of each other, then exited through different doors. Dogs focused longer on their owners than the strangers. When left alone again, the dogs waited by the door where their owner exited. The experiment was repeated with the faces of both the owner and stranger covered. The dogs were less likely to focus on their owner or wait by the door for them, illustrating the importance of facial recognition to dogs.

How well can dogs identify facial expressions?

Research suggests that dogs have social recognition skills on level with a human infant aged 6 months to 2 years. The ability to recognize human facial expressions and body language is a learned skill. Dogs, like children, learn about cause and effect at an early age. Dogs know that licking their owner’s hand will generate a smile and reward (treat or affection) and nipping at a hand will result in a frown and reprimand.

Babies and dogs develop social skills by observing adults and interpreting their facial expressions and body language. They pick up other skills by watching us, too. Both human babies and dogs learn to track with their eyes by mimicking humans. Tracking ability was the subject of an experiment in which dogs were shown a movie of a woman who stared straight at them, spoke, and then looked at an object next to her. Another clip showed the woman turning her head to look at the object without focusing on the dog or speaking. The dogs followed the woman’s gaze more often when the woman in the film made eye contact and spoke first. Babies in similar experiments responded the same way.

Can I test this with my own dog?

Try an experiment of your own. Sit facing your dog and break out a huge smile. Your dog will probably relax his ears and wag his tail. Next make a frown and furrow your brow. Your dog will likely respond to this stern look by backing up a bit and looking guilty. Your dog, like generations of dogs before her, has developed the ability to recognize and respond to changes in your facial expressions.

So, the simple answer to a complicated, much researched question is, YES! Dogs do recognize our facial expressions which makes them wonderful family members.

This client information sheet is based on material written by: Lynn Buzhardt, DVM